Method of adjusting an ui and user terminal using the same

ABSTRACT

A method of adjusting the size, position, or arrangement of a UI and a user terminal using the method are disclosed. The user terminal includes a display unit for displaying a UI, and a UI control unit configured to display the UI on the display unit with at least one of a position, size, and arrangement of the UI adjusted according to an input by a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/600,515, which was filed on May 19, 2017, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/125,543, which was filed on Dec. 11,2013, which is a National Stage Entry of PCT International ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2013/005123, which was filed on Jun. 11, 2013, and whichclaims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0070194 filedwith the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 28, 2012, andKorean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0082500, filed with the KoreanIntellectual Property Office on Jul. 27, 2012. The disclosures of theabove patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method of adjusting a UI and to auser terminal using the method.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent times, the display size of the smart phone has graduallyincreased, as seen on the Galaxy Note and the Optimus Vu, making iteasier to view video clips, etc., but more difficult to manipulate asmart phone with one hand. When manipulating a smart phone with onehand, the thumb is used in most cases, but since the thumb is shortercompared to the other fingers, manipulation becomes even more difficult.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of adjustingthe size, position, or arrangement of a UI and a user terminal thatemploys such method.

To achieve the objective above, an embodiment of the present inventionprovides a user terminal that includes a display unit for displaying aUI, and a UI control unit configured to display the UI on the displayunit with at least one of a position, size, and arrangement of the UIadjusted according to an input by a user.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of adjusting aUI on a user terminal that includes displaying a first UI on a displayunit; and displaying a second UI on the display unit. Here, the secondUI has the same function as the first UI but has a different position,size, or arrangement.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a recorded medium whichis readable by a digital processing device, and which tangibly embodiesa program of instructions executable by the digital processing device toperform a method for adjusting a UI on a user terminal, where the methodincludes displaying a first UI on a display unit; and displaying asecond UI on the display unit. Here, the second UI has the same functionas the first UI but has a different position, size, or arrangement.

A method of adjusting a UI and a user terminal that uses the methodaccording to certain embodiments of the present invention enables theuser to adjust the position, size, or arrangement of the UI forconvenient use, so that the user can easily manipulate a user terminal,especially a smart phone, even with one hand.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be setforth in part in the description which follows, and in part will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, and FIG. 1D illustrate a method of adjustinga UI according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 illustrate a method ofadjusting a UI according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of adjusting a UI according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a UI screen according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method of adjusting a UI according to an eighthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of adjusting a UI according to a ninthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a user terminal according to anembodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Reference Numerals] 100: UI 102: pattern 200, 202:adjustment area 700: UI 702: adjustment icon 800: menu 810: firstsub-menu 812: second sub-menu 900: adjustment bar 910: positionadjustment bar 912: size adjustment bar 1100: UI 1200: adjustment unit1300: adjustment icon 1400, 1500, 1502: UI

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described below inmore detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A user terminal based on an embodiment of the present invention, such asa smart phone, can easily adjust the size, position, rotation, etc., ofa displayed UI (User Interface). In particular, embodiments of thepresent invention may provide various methods of adjusting a UI by toeasily manipulate a UT displayed on the user terminal with one hand.Here, the UI encompasses all types of UI such as entities (interfaces,widgets, icons, patterns, etc.), pattern unlock screens, widget screensshown after an unlock, regular UI screens, etc., and can also mean apartial UI from among a whole UI displayed on a screen. The UI cancorrespond to the size of the screen on which the UI is displayed.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described below inmore detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, and FIG. 1D illustrate a method of adjustinga UI according to an embodiment of the present invention. For easierdescription, the method of adjusting a UI will be described using thepattern unlock as an example of a UI.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the unlock patterns 102 for a pattern unlock canbe defined as one UI 100, and the UI 100 may be displayed on the screenof a user terminal, such as a smart phone for example. The screen can bedivided into an area for displaying the UI, a top area for displayingthe remaining battery power, etc., and a bottom area for displaying thephone icon, etc., as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D.

When the UI 100 is displayed in a large size as illustrated in FIG. 1A,the user may have to use both hands to control the user terminalconveniently, but when only one hand is available for using the userterminal, such as on a bus, or a subway train, etc., it can be difficultto control the user terminal.

Thus, a method of adjusting the UI based on an embodiment of the presentinvention may adjust the size, position, etc., of the UI 100 accordingto an input by the user, as illustrated in FIG. 1B to FIG. 1D. Ofcourse, the UI adjustment method can involve reducing the UI to generatea reduced UI 100 a, 100 b, and 100 c, and magnifying a reduced UI 100 a,100 b, and 100 c or returning it to its original size. Here, the rate ofmagnification and rate of reduction can be varied according to theuser's input or can be fixed to preset values.

The UI 100 a, 100 b, or 100 c can be arranged in various positions, asillustrated in FIGS. 1B to 1D. However, assuming that the user touchesthe user terminal with one hand, it may be preferable to position thereduced-size UI 100 a, 100 b, or 100 c on the left or right side of thescreen.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user input is aconcept that encompasses both user inputs made as a user touches thescreen of the user terminal and user inputs made as a user brings atouch means, such as a finger, etc., near to the user terminal withoutactually touching the screen of the user terminal. For easierdescription, it will be assumed below that the user input is an inputmade when the user touches the screen of the user terminal or touches akeypad, etc., of the user terminal.

A description is provided below, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, of various methods for adjusting a UI according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6 illustrate a method ofadjusting a UI according to a first embodiment of the present invention.For easier description, the UI adjustment method will be described usingthe pattern unlock as an example of a UI.

Referring to FIG. 2, there can be left and right adjustment areas 200and upper and lower adjustment areas 202 for adjusting the size andposition of the UI. More specifically, the adjustment areas 200 and 202can be positioned in perimeter portions of the UI, and can be positionedwithin a preset distance from the bezel of the user terminal. Theadjustment areas 200 and 202 can be actually represented on the screen,such as by arrows as illustrated in FIG. 2, or can be virtual areas thatare not represented by arrows.

Although FIG. 2 represents the adjustment areas 200 and 202 as arrows,they can be represented in other forms. For example, entities similar toa UI for zoom adjustment on a camera can be shown in the adjustmentareas 200 and 202. Also, the adjustment areas 200 and 202 can preferablybe positioned in areas other than the area in which entities such asicons, etc., are represented, and can be areas along the entire right orleft side or partial areas on the right or left side.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, if a user uses atouch means, such as a finger or a touch pen, etc., to touch one of theadjustment areas 200 and 202 and move in a particular direction whilemaintaining contact, i.e. if the user provides a particular input to theuser terminal, then the UI 100 can be reduced or magnified to the touchpoint of the touch means.

For example, if the user touches a particular point in the adjustmentareas 200 and 202 and moves the touch means in a downward or a leftwarddirection while maintaining contact, the UI 100 can be represented in areduced form near the touch point, and if the user moves the touch meansin an upward or a rightward direction while maintaining contact, the UI100 can be represented in a magnified form near the touch point. Thereduction and magnification rates can be determined according to thedistance moved by the touch means from the initial touch point. Ofcourse, the direction for magnification/reduction can be set opposite tothe above.

Also, the final position of the magnified or reduced UI can bedetermined according to the initial touch point or according to thefinal touch point. In cases where the position of the magnified orreduced UI is determined according to the final touch point, the UI canmove while it is being magnified or reduced, as it follows the positionof the touch means that moves while in contact with the user terminal.

In one example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, if the touch means moves in aparticular direction while touching a middle point of the leftadjustment area 200 a, then the UI 100 can be reduced to the middleleft. Of course, although FIG. 3 illustrates a reduction as an example,it should be appreciated that reversing the arrows in FIG. 3 wouldrepresent a screen for magnification.

In another example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, if there is a movement ina particular direction while touching a lower point of the leftadjustment area 200 b, then the UI 100 can be reduced to the lower left.

In yet another example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, if there is a movementin a particular direction while touching a middle point of the rightadjustment area 200 c, then the UI 100 can be reduced to the middleright.

In still another example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, if there is amovement in a particular direction while touching a lower point of theleft adjustment area 200 b, then the UI 100 can be reduced to the lowerright.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, if the useruses the touch means to touch a point on one of the adjustment areas 200and 202 and then make a touch again, then the UI 100 can be magnified orreduced to the touched point, with the rate of magnification orreduction corresponding to the number of touches.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, if theuser uses the touch means to touch a point on one of the adjustmentareas 200 and 202, the UI 100 can begin its magnification or reductionto the touched point, and when the user releases the touch, the changein size of the UI 100 can be stopped. For example, when the user touchesa portion of the adjustment areas 200 and 202, a reduction can begin,and when the user touches again, a magnification can begin. Thus, theuser can select a magnification or reduction function by making a touchor a re-touch and control the duration of the pressing to magnify orreduce the UI 100 to a desired point in a desired proportion.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, if theuser moves the touch means to a particular point in relation to thetouch point, the UI 100 can be magnified or reduced to the point atwhich the touch means is positioned last, where the rate ofmagnification or reduction can be determined according to the distanceby which the touch means was moved.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, if the useruses the touch means to touch the adjustment area on an upper part ofthe screen of the user terminal and move to the left while maintainingcontact, then the UI 100 can be magnified or reduced as it is moves tothe left. Of course, if the user moves to the right while touching theadjustment area on the upper part of the screen of the user terminal,then the UI 100 can be magnified or reduced as it is moves to the right.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, if theuser uses the touch means to touch the adjustment area on a lower partof the screen of the user terminal and move to the left whilemaintaining contact, then the UI 100 can be magnified or reduced as itis moves to the left. Of course, if the user moves to the right whiletouching the adjustment area on the lower part of the screen of the userterminal, then the UI 100 can be magnified or reduced as it is moves tothe right.

In summary, a UI adjustment method based on this embodiment may use thetouch point, to magnify or reduce the UI to or near the touch point.That is, the UI adjustment method according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may use the touch point in representing a magnified orreduced UI, where the position of the magnified or reduced UI may bedetermined according to the touch point of the touch means touching theadjustment area. Here, the touch point can include all points, from theinitial touch point to the final touch point, and whether the UI is tobe magnified or reduced can be determined according to the direction inwhich the touch means moves from the touch point of the touch means.Also, the rate of magnification or reduction can be determined byvarious methods based on the distance of a movement, the number oftouches, the duration of a touch, etc.

Of course, the image of the UI being magnified or reduced can bedisplayed as is on the user terminal, or the magnified or reduced UI canbe displayed on the screen without having the image of the magnificationor reduction shown. Also, while it is described above that the UI may bechanged to the point where the user made a touch, the direction ofadjustment of the UI can also be fixed, irrespective of the user's touchpoint.

Although the above describes a size change and positional movement forone UI, it is also possible to change the size, position, or arrangementof multiple UI's.

While it is described above that the rate of magnification or reductionof a UI may vary according to the movement distance, etc., of the touchmeans, the rate of magnification or reduction can also be set initiallyto a fixed value. That is, if the user touches a portion of anadjustment area, the UI can be magnified or reduced to the touch point,but the rate of magnification or reduction can be fixed. Thus, even ifthe user moves the touch means, the rate of magnification or reductioncan remain unchanged. However, when the touch means is moved, the UI canbe magnified or reduced to the final touch point of the touch means.

Although it is not mentioned above, the beginning of the UI adjustmentcan be triggered as the user presses a particular button on the userterminal, selects a particular menu item, or issues a UI adjustmentcommand by voice.

Also, while FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 illustrate a touch input method foradjusting the size of a UI that is similar to a method for adjusting acamera zoom, it is also possible to apply other methods. It is possibleto have the screen increased if there is a prolonged touch on aparticular area, such as the upper end portion of an arrow for example,and have the screen decreased if there is a prolonged touch on a lowerend portion of the arrow.

When the screen size has been changed according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the changed screen size can be applied for aparticular UI only and for a single use. That is, the UI shown after theuser decreases the pattern unlock screen and performs an unlock can berepresented in its original size.

Also, if the user turns off the user terminal and turns it on again, thepattern unlock screen can be represented in its original size before thereduction. Of course, the settings can be configured such that thechanged UI size always applies to all UI's.

When the user decreases the size of a UI on the user terminal andexecutes an application, the application can be executed in its originalscreen size.

Although it is not illustrated in the drawings, it would be apparent tothose skilled in the art that an embodiment of the present invention canalso be applied to adjust the size of photographs and web pages whenviewing photographs stored in the user terminal or when surfing the web,particularly in situations where multiple touches cannot be made.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according to asecond embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7A, a UI 700 including unlock patterns 102 can bedisplayed on the screen of a user terminal.

When a user presses a particular button, etc., for adjusting the UI 700,an icon 702 can be shown that allows the adjusting of the UI 700.

In this situation, if the user touches a particular point, such as point704 for example, and pulls towards an inner direction of the UI 700while maintaining contact, then the UI 700 can be reduced in thedirection of the pulling, and if the user touches and rotates the icon702, then the UI 700 can be rotated, as illustrated in FIG. 7B.

In summary, the UI adjustment method of this embodiment can provide anicon 702 for adjusting the UI 700, to allow an adjustment of the size orposition of the UI 700 by using the icon 702.

Of course, the UI 700 can also be made to rotate if the user touches aparticular point on the UI 700 and moves in a rotating direction whilemaintaining contact, instead of using the icon 702 to rotate the UI 700.

That is, a UI adjustment method of this embodiment can adjust the sizeand position of a UI 700 and rotate the UI 700 to a desired direction.

FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, if the user presses a particular button,etc., then a menu 800 for adjusting the UI can be displayed on thescreen of the user terminal.

The menu 800 can include a sub-menu 810 for adjusting the position ofthe UI and a sub-menu 812 for adjusting the size of the UI, asillustrated in FIG. 8B.

That is, the user can make a selection in the menu 800 to adjust the UIto a desired position and a desired size. Of course, the composition ofthe menu 800 can have many variations.

Calling the menu 800 and making a selection can also be performed by theuser making a voice input, rather than pressing a button or making atouch input.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of adjusting a UI according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, an adjustment bar 900 can be displayed on a portionof the screen of the user terminal. Preferably, the adjustment bar 900can be shown on a perimeter portion of a UI displayed on the screen ofthe user terminal.

The adjustment bar 900 can include a position adjustment bar 910 thatadjusts the position of the UI and a size adjustment bar 912 thatadjusts the size of the UI.

If the user selects an icon for a particular direction on the positionadjustment bar 910, the UI can move in a corresponding direction, andthe size of the UI can gradually be magnified or reduced according tothe duration by which the size adjustment bar 912 is pressed. Theselection of magnification or reduction can be changed in various ways,an example of which can involve recognizing a selection for thereduction function if the size adjustment bar 912 is touched an oddnumber of times and recognizing a selection for the magnificationfunction if the size adjustment bar 912 is touched an even number oftimes.

Although the foregoing does not mention the adjustment bar 900 as beingimplemented with a rotation function, the adjustment bar 900 can furtherinclude a rotation adjustment bar for implementing such rotationfunction.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustmentbar 900 can include only the position adjustment bar 910. For example,if the user selects an icon for a particular direction on the positionadjustment bar 910, the UI can be moved left, right, up or down, and theUI size can be reduced or magnified in a fixed rate.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, theadjustment bar 900 can include only the size adjustment bar 912. Forexample, if the user uses the size adjustment bar 912 to adjust thesize, the UI can be automatically moved to a preset fixed position.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, theadjustment bar 900 itself can be positioned biased to the left or to theright, to allow the user easier use with one hand.

FIG. 10 illustrates a UI screen according to another embodiment of thepresent invention.

While unlock patterns are illustrated as an example a UI in FIG. 1 toFIG. 9, the UI can include icons, at least one widget, a screenincluding widgets, etc., as illustrated in FIG. 10.

In the case of icons, widgets, etc., such as those illustrated in FIG.10, the UI can be a widget screen showing widgets, and the size,position, or rotation of the widget screen as a UI can be adjusted.Here, the widget screen as a UI refers only to the area within theadjustment area represented by arrows in FIG. 10, and the top areashowing the battery indicator icon, etc., and the bottom area showingthe home icon, etc., may not be included in the UI for the purposes ofthe present invention.

The features described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 9 are alsoapplicable to the UI of FIG. 10. Also, the features described withreference to FIG. 10 and described subsequently are also applicable tothe UI of FIG. 1 through FIG. 9.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, in addition tothe UI within the adjustment area, the top area showing the batteryindicator icon, etc., and the bottom area showing the home icon, etc.,as well as the icons, etc., within these areas can also be adjusted inposition or size.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa fifth embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 11A, if the user shakes the user terminal leftand right or up and down, the UI 1100 can be reduced or magnified duringthe shaking, and if the user, while shaking the user terminal left andright or up and down, stops after moving the user terminal in aparticular direction, such as direction 1102 for example, then thereduced or magnified UI 1100 can be positioned in said particulardirection, as illustrated in FIG. 11B.

That is, the user can use a shaking method to adjust the size of the UI100 and move the position of the UI 100, without having to press abutton on the user terminal or manipulate a touch screen. By using thismethod, the position and size, etc., of the UI 100 can be adjusted withjust one hand, making it considerably convenient for the user who is ona bus, etc.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, themagnification or reduction of the UI 1100 can be determined according tothe direction in which the user terminal is shaken. For example, if theuser shakes the user terminal left and right, the UI 1100 can bereduced, and if the user shakes the user terminal up and down, the UI1100 can be magnified.

In summary, a UI adjustment method of this embodiment can employ amethod of shaking the user terminal to adjust the position and size,etc., of the UI. Of course, it is possible for the UI adjustment methodto rotate the UI as well.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12A, an adjustment part 1200 can be displayed on aportion of the screen of the user terminal.

The adjustment part 1200 may recognize a touch input by the user, andthe user can move a touch means in a particular direction whilemaintaining contact in the adjustment part 1200 to magnify or reduce theUI in the touched direction, as illustrated in FIG. 12B.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the userterminal not only can adjust the UI but also can adjust the position,etc., of the adjustment part 1200.

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa seventh embodiment of the present invention.

If the user terminal is tilted in a particular direction, as illustratedin FIG. 13A, then the UI can be moved in the tilted direction, asillustrated in FIG. 13B. Also, the size of the UI can be magnified orreduced, where the rate of magnification or reduction can be setbeforehand. That is, the UI may be magnified or reduced in the directionin which the user terminal is tilted, and the position of the magnifiedor reduced UI may be determined according to the direction in which theuser terminal is tilted.

For example, the user terminal can be tilted left, right, up, or downfrom an orientation in which the display unit of the user terminal facesthe sky, or can be tilted left, right, or up from an orientation inwhich the user terminal stands upright. In such cases, the UI can bemagnified or reduced towards the tilting side.

The tilted state of the user terminal can be detected by a sensor, forwhich the user terminal can include a gyroscope sensor for example. Asthe gyroscope sensor detects the tilting direction of the user terminal,the position and size of the UI can be adjusted. That is, if the userterminal is tilted to the left, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the UI can bemoved left while being reduced in a leftward direction. Although it isnot illustrated in the drawings, the user terminal can be moved rightwhile being reduced in a rightward direction if the user terminal istilted to the right. In other embodiments, the position of the magnifiedor reduced UI can be set differently according to the tilting directionof the user terminal.

FIG. 14 illustrates a method of adjusting a UI according to an eighthembodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the user can move the position of a UI, ofwhich the size, etc., has been adjusted, on the user terminal by using atouch means.

According to another embodiment of the present invention after the UI1400 has been adjusted, the adjusted UI 1400 can be moved according tothe direction in which the user shakes the user terminal.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of adjusting a UI according to a ninthembodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 15, the user can copy a UI 1500 to create a UIcopy 1502. By such copying, the UI's 1500 and 1502 may be present inmultiple positions, so that the user can select a desired icon, etc.,anywhere with one hand.

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B illustrate a method of adjusting a UI according toa tenth embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, a menu 1600 can be representedon the screen of the user terminal, and if the user selects a particularmenu item, the UI 1610 can be arranged on the screen in a correspondingnumber. Of course, the position and the rate of magnification orreduction can be set beforehand for each number of UI's 1610.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a user terminal according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 17, a user terminal can include a control unit 1700, aUI unit 1702, a display unit 1704, an input unit 1706, a recognitionunit 1708, a menu unit 1710, a UI control unit 1712, and a storage unit1714. The UI adjustment methods described above with reference to FIG. 1to FIG. 16 can be applied to the user terminal illustrated in FIG. 17,and other embodiments can have additional or omitted components withrespect to FIG. 17.

The UI unit 1702 may display a UI, such as an unlock pattern, widget,icon, etc., or manage a displayed UI. Here, the UI can be a patternunlock UI or a UI representing one or more application icons, or anentity, a group of multiple entities, or an entity screen showing atleast one entity.

The display unit 1704 may serve to display images, etc., and can be anOLED, LCD, PDP, etc., not being limited to a particular type.

The input unit 1706 may serve to receive the user's input.

The recognition unit 1708 may recognize the user's input and extract theuser's command.

The menu unit 1710 may manage a menu that is to be shown on the displayunit 1704, a menu for managing the UI, and the like.

The UI control unit 1712 may adjust and manage the size, position,arrangement (rotation), etc., of a UI according to the user commandcorresponding to the user's input.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the UI control unit1712 can show a UI after moving the magnified or reduced UI to thedirection of a point at which the touch means made contact in anadjustment area on the display unit 1704 or, if the touch means wasmoved, the direction of the point at which the touch means waspositioned last. That is, the position of the magnified or reduced UImay be determined according to the touch point of the touch meanstouching the adjustment area, and the UI control unit 1712 may magnifyor reduce the UI in a direction towards a position corresponding to userinput. Here, the rate of magnification or the rate of reduction of theUI can be determined in accordance with the movement distance of thetouch means, and the magnification or reduction of the UI can bedetermined in accordance with the direction in which the touch means wasmoved from the touch point of the touch means. Also, the adjustment areacan be positioned in a perimeter portion of the UI and can be positionedwithin a preset distance from the bezel of the user terminal.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the UI controlunit 1712 can show the UI after moving the magnified or reduced UI in adirection towards a position corresponding to user input.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the UIcontrol unit 1712 can show the UI after moving the magnified or reducedUI in a direction in which the user terminal is tilted.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, anadjustment part capable of touch recognition can be displayed on aportion of the screen of the display unit 1704, and the UI control unit1712 can adjust at least one of the position, size, and arrangement ofthe UI in accordance with the input of the touch means touching theadjustment part.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a multiplenumber of adjustment icons can be shown in a perimeter portion of thescreen of the display unit 1704. For example, there can be threeadjustment icons each on the top portion and bottom portion of thedisplay unit 1704, with one adjustment icon on the middle left and oneadjustment icon on the middle right. If the user selects a particularadjustment icon, the UI control unit 1712 can change the position of theUI to or near to the position of the selected adjustment icon, and theUI can be magnified or reduced to a preset size. Also, it is possible toallow the user to arbitrarily set the number, arrangement position, andform of the adjustment icons.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the UI controlunit 1704 can display on the display unit 1704 a second UI having thesame function as a first UI that is displayed on the display unit 1704but having a different position, size, or arrangement. Here, the firstUI and the second UI can be displayed simultaneously or can be shownindividually at different times.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, if theuser terminal is rebooted while the second UI is being displayed, afirst UI having a different size from that of the second UI can bedisplayed on the display unit 1704. Here, the first UI can have a sizethat was set initially on the user terminal.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, whenswitching to another screen while the second UI is being displayed, athird UI can be shown on the switched screen in the size initially seton the user terminal, irrespective of the rate of magnification orreduction of the second UI.

The storage unit 1714 may store various data.

The control unit 1700 may control the overall operations of thecomponents of the user terminal.

The technical features described above can be implemented in the form ofprogram instructions that may be performed using various computer meansand can be recorded in a computer-readable medium. Such acomputer-readable medium can include program instructions, data files,data structures, etc., alone or in combination. The program instructionsrecorded on the medium can be designed and configured specifically forthe present invention or can be a type of medium known to and used bythe skilled person in the field of computer software. Examples of acomputer-readable medium may include magnetic media such as hard disks,floppy disks, magnetic tapes, etc., optical media such as CD-ROM′ DVD's,etc., magneto-optical media such as floptical disks, etc., and hardwaredevices such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, etc. Examples of the program ofinstructions may include not only machine language codes produced by acompiler but also high-level language codes that can be executed by acomputer through the use of an interpreter, etc. The hardware mentionedabove can be made to operate as one or more software modules thatperform the actions of the embodiments of the present invention, andvice versa.

The embodiments of the present invention described above are providedfor illustrative purposes. It should be understood that a person havingordinary skill in the art would be able to make various modifications,alterations, and additions without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention, and that such modifications, alterations, andadditions are encompassed by the scope of claims set forth below.

1. A method of adjusting a user interface (UI) on a user terminal, themethod comprising: displaying a UI on a display unit of a user terminal,wherein the display unit includes a screen that defines a screen size;wherein the UI includes an upper area displaying status informationpertaining to the user terminal, wherein the status information includesan indication of battery charge, and a lower area displaying a pluralityof selectable input receiving units; wherein the plurality of selectableinput receiving units comprises one or more software applicationsrepresented by graphical icons; wherein a size of the upper area andlower area in relation to the UI defines a ratio; wherein the UI and thescreen size are initially substantially equal in size, thereby definingan initial UI size; receiving a first touch event at least one locationrelative to the screen; resizing the UI into a reduced form to define areduced UI according to the first touch event, wherein the reduced UI issmaller than the screen size and wherein a difference in area betweenthe reduced UI and the screen size defines a space; wherein the reducedUI defines a smaller upper area and a smaller lower area, wherein a sizeof the smaller upper area and smaller lower area in relation to thereduced UI substantially maintains the ratio; wherein the space excludesthe smaller upper area and smaller lower area; executing an applicationwithin the reduced UI when the application is requested to be executedby a user while the reduced UI is being displayed; wherein the at leastone location of the first touch event relative to the screen is used todetermine a position of the reduced UI on the screen; receiving a secondtouch event; resizing the reduced UI into an enlarged UI according tothe second touch event, wherein the enlarged UI is larger than thereduced UI; wherein the enlarged UI defines an enlarged upper area andenlarged lower area; and wherein a size of the enlarged upper area andenlarged lower area in relation to the enlarged UI maintains the ratio.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one location relative tothe screen of the first touch event is proximate to a bottom edge of thescreen.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein in response to the first touchevent being proximate to the bottom edge of the screen, the position ofreduced UI on the screen is at least one of (a) adjacent to a bottomleft corner of the screen; (b) adjacent to a bottom right corner of thescreen; and (c) adjacent to a bottom center of the screen.